I’ve Become a Genius Chapter 71:

Chapter 71:

Lee Hyejin pressed the phone screen with trembling hands.

[@dwfgwWs OMG, Yooil t with the Wandering Theater team? (Screenshot of the post)]

The captured post was a sighting report uploaded on a community forum.

Gosh!'

Zooming into the blurry photo from the post, Lee Hyejin gasped.

Though taken from a distance and blurry, the side profile was unmistakably Han Yooil.

[@yuulll_33 Is it real that Han Yooil is joining Wandering Theater???]

[@asdfew OMG I heard Um Jiyoung, Moon Yuhwa, and Yoon Seula are in it too]

[@dbdlf_fgdsecd Never thought of this combo OMG]

[@jfdrr Wandering Theater

UmMoonYoon and now Yooil OMG]

[@yuulll_33 Can't wait, seriously,,,]

Holding her phone with an excited face, Lee Hyejin forgot all about her ruined course registration.

The filming had just begun, and it would be a while before the broadcast

I can't wait to watch it.'

Recently, Lee Hyejin learned that even waiting could be a driving force in life.

It was the first realization she had as a Mooyi.

* * *

"Great work, Mr. Actor!"

Han Yooil also bowed deeply in response.

Like the first screening, the closing ceremony also passed in a whirlwind.

Hours of makeup, several interviews, and the flashes that ca with it

the film festival went by in a flash.

Yooil saw off Gu Chanik and Hwang Yiwon as they returned to Korea.

Take care in your filming, Yooil. Let's go fishing together if we match schedules next ti.

See you back in Korea.

And now, Yooil was at the lodging arranged by the

team.

Co comfortably, really comfortably!

Reassured by those words, Yooil was a bit taken aback upon arriving at the lodging.

"Oh my~ Yu PD, did you get us this friend?"

"How old are you? Look at that skin, so fair~"

"My daughter is such a big fan~ I'm so thrilled to et you~"

Han Yooil was surrounded by three actors, sitting on the couch.

The bouquet and cake Yooil had prepared were barely noticeable amid the lavish food prepared by the

production team.

They seed so charismatic on screen.'

Um Jiyoung with her short, sharp haircut and piercing eyes, often playing intellectual roles. Moon Yuhwa, famous for her natural curly hair, large eyes, and a slightly angular jaw, known for her unique roles. Yoon Seula, who debuted as Miss Korea but imdiately gained the title of a serious actor after her first work.

These were actors one wouldn't easily et unless they worked together on a project.

Even Brion had once said this when he first heard their nas.

Actors Um Jiyoung, Moon Yuhwa, and Yoon Seula are all alumni of the Korean National University of Arts, Theatre Departnt. Known as the most serious and intimidating actors on set, famous among their juniors.

It was certainly the case.

"Wow, it's too noisy! Everyone! We have to shoot the opening, so please quiet down a bit so we can hear Han Yooil's voice, okay?"

Pleadingly, Yu Jihyuk PD addressed the three actors who, instead of quieting down, each threw in a remark.

"Co on~ Are we children? Jihyuk, we're just excited to see you! Excited!"

"That's right, how grateful are we. A young friend has co to et us with a cake and a bouquet~"

"So admirable, so admirable!"

Yooil, amidst the booming voices, just offered a faint smile.

As the brief commotion settled, the official opening began.

"Do you know what play we are going to put on this ti?"

At Yu Jihyuk PD's question, Yooil nodded.

Thanks to the script sent in advance by the Yurang Troupe, he was well inford.

"I heard it's The Picture of Dorian Gray'."

"Correct~!"

Yu Jihyuk PD responded cheerfully.

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray', published in 1890, is a gothic novel representing aestheticism.

Yu PD pointed to the script on the table and exclaid vivaciously.

"This is a new adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray' for you, written by playwright Gu Yuri. You three have read it already, right?"

"We've morized it already."

"Already~?!"

Yu Jihyuk PD exclaid dramatically. Um Jiyoung and Moon Yuhwa glanced at him playfully and said,

"Hey PD! We are actors, rember?"

"We received it a month ago. Of course, we've morized it all~"

"Right. I was curious, how did you find the script, Mr. Yooil?"

At Yoon Seula's friendly question, Yooil smiled and answered,

"I really enjoyed reading it."

"I heard from the manager that you stayed up all night reading the script!" Yu Jihyuk PD chid in, to which Yooil laughed awkwardly.

In truth, it was because he and Brion were experinting with various acting thods.

The Picture of Dorian Gray' featured the beautiful yet increasingly vile Dorian Gray, Lord Henry who led him into a life of hedonism, and Basil, the painter of Dorian Gray's portrait'. The story follows Dorian Gray who, in pursuit of eternal youth, is willing to sacrifice even his soul, and eventually faces his terrible, corrupted soul

his own portrait, and ets his end by driving a knife into it.

The adapted play retained the mood and the overall frawork of the original.

While superficially, the main difference was that all the lead actors were won, there was another significant change.

It was the placent of Dorian Gray's portrait' at the center of the stage.

The characters all faced the backstage, discussing the story while looking at the reversed canvas.

While the characters' nas and basic storylines were similar, the characters underwent major and minor changes through the adaptation. However, it was straightforward enough to be understood by anyone watching the play from the beginning.

"But what is our Yooil doing here?"

"Wait, is Yooil in the play too?"

"No, sis. He's co all this way, he has to join us on stage."

It was a question that had been asked since the first eting.

And Han Yooil, upon receiving the script for the play, had a role he wanted to perform.

"I"

Yooil opened his mouth.

"!"

The response startled the three actors, exchanging glances of confusion.

"Is it feasible? Ti is incredibly short."

The director, catching the writer's glance, fiddled with the cara.

One of the many caras began to zoom in on Yooil's face.

Han Yooil looked calm in the cara's fra, a face devoid of worry.

At the end of that tranquility was an unbreakable resolve.

Seeing Yooil's face, Yu PD chuckled.

Truth be told, he hadn't fully trusted Han Yooil either.

until he saw the video shown by the second PD.

Having seen that video, he felt compelled to actively place Han Yooil on the stage.

Yu Jihyuk PD continued.

"Actually, we were going to ask Mr. Yooil for a minor role with almost no lines. But after reading the play, the actor himself gave his input."

"Oh my!"

"So, the playwright made a separate version with Mr. Yooil in mind."

Um Jiyoung and Moon Yuhwa's eyes widened slightly. A mix of surprise and skepticism colored their gaze.

"It's great for us. But isn't the rehearsal period too short?"

"We have only one or two days, not even a week."

Moreover, the performance was scheduled for just two days later.

""

Yoon Seula's well-grood eyebrows rose.

Even though it's a paid gig for a reality show, this was still acting'.

The reason she and her agency accepted

was singular.

It was a travel-healing acting' reality show.

Hmm I thought he was a serious guy?'

He was still a young actor. Perhaps in youthful folly, he had blurted out sothing rash.

Maybe he was blindly trusting the power of editing.

She looked at Han Yooil, chin in hand.

He seed like a pure and polite young man, which she liked a bit.

Yoon Seula lifted the corners of her mouth, concealing a faint disappointnt deep within.

However, a few hours later, as soon as the acting rehearsal with Han Yooil began, Yoon Seula found herself forgetting all her previous thoughts.

* * *

As the rehearsal comnced, the three actors transford into entirely different people.

"In my life I've never seen soone so beautiful."

Um Jiyoung, playing the painter Basil, murmured dreamily.

"Youth is fleeting, Dorian. You must enjoy this mont!"

Moon Yuhwa, as Lord Henry, stretched out her arms and exclaid to the void.

"If I could remain young forever, if the painting aged in my stead, if only that were possible I'd do anything. I'd sacrifice anything even my soul."

Yoon Seula kneeled, her eyes sparkling.

The entire scene was surreal.

The Wandering Theater production team watched, holding their breath, as the actors perford.

It was as if the actors had forgotten that anyone else was even there.

"Wow."

The junior writer clasped her hands together, noticing they had grown damp with nervousness.

This season's cast is no joke.'

With their extensive acting experience and history on the stage, the rehearsal was extraordinary.

However, amidst them stood an individual who was not overshadowed, drawing attention ti and again.

Han Yooil.

A young actor among seasoned perforrs.

Compared to the others, he was maintaining a static posture. Yet, the subtle changes in his expression and the slight movents of his fingertips made it impossible to take one's eyes off him.

How can he do that without saying a single line yet?'

However, the junior writer didn't know yet that it was too early to be surprised.

* * *

True to the na Wandering Theater', their play was to be perford on a makeshift stage set up on a grassy lawn.

Although it was an outdoor stage, the play was to be presented with German and English subtitles on the screen.

It might not have been a lavish indoor theater, but thanks to the generous production budget, the outdoor setting looked quite impressive.

Enough to make passersby take a second glance.

"What's that?"

When his friend spoke with an excited voice, Bruno had a bad premonition.

And that premonition was right on target. His friend, eyes shining, began leading him away from their intended destination, towards the grassy lawn.

"Bruno! Look!!"

Bruno sighed and looked around. Caras and filming equipnt were set up all around.

A movie? Or a docuntary, perhaps.

While Bruno was pondering disinterestedly, his friend jumped on the spot and shouted.

"Wow! I know that show! It's a variety show, really famous in Korea!"

"Jay, as you know, I'm not interested in K-POP."

"It's not about music, it's a play! Bruno, doesn't it sound fascinating?!"

"Maybe. But I'm pretty tired."

"Just give it 10 minutes! You're curious, aren't you?"

Compelled by his friend's pleading, Bruno reluctantly made his way and settled down on the grass.

How impressive could it be, anyway.'

He had grown up in Germany, attending nurous theaters from a young age with his parents.

In truth, he wasn't much of a theater enthusiast himself. It was more out of familiarity due to his parents, who were fervent fans of theater and ballet.

"10 minutes. After that, we're leaving."

However, Bruno didn't know yet.

Instead of just 10 minutes, he would find himself rooted to the spot, unable to leave until the play was over.